By Uzor Odigbo
The Kwara State Athletics Association says the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, (AFN) acted in error in its ‘suspension’ of its association following the revelation that one coach Ahmed Muritala who was banned for 10 years is still associating with coaches and officials.
In a letter dated Tuesday June 20 and addressed to Tonobok Okowa, the AFN President, the Kwara State Athletics Association expressed its displeasure with the untidy and unprofessional manner the federation handled the matter.
The Letter read,: The attention of the (Kwara State Athletics) association has been drawn to the letter of suspension purportedly addressed to the chairman of Kwara State Athletics Association on matters relating to the suspension of coach Muritala
Ahmed, who is an employee of the Kwara Sports Commission.
‘The release of the letter on the Chairmen and Secretaries (Whatssapp) platform, rather than directly to the chairman of Kwara State Athletics Association is less than ideal and leaves a bad taste,’ wrote the association.
The association also revealed that, as a member association of the AFN, it did not receive any correspondence from the sport’s governing body in Nigeria informing about coach Muritala’s charge for anti-doping rule violation and his subsequent ban.
‘The association never received any letter or correspondence from WADA, AFN or relevant body to the effect of his fair hearing.
‘The association also never received any letter or correspondence from WADA, AFN or relevant body to the effect of determination of his fair hearing with the WADA,’ the letter further stated.
The Kwara State Athletics Association also revealed that the banned coach was not in its employment but, as a proactive measure the association, suspended him from all athletics activities in the state when the news first filtered out that he has been banned.
Coach Muritala, the association added, was suspended by the association based on the letter WADA sent to him pending determination of his case
”The association sent a copy of its letter suspending coach Muritala to the AFN and the association suspended him due to the gravity of his alleged infringement and the source of his letter (WADA).
‘Coach Muritala has remained suspended by the association from all our activities as we waited for correspondences from relevant quarters and that the association never approved whatever athletics activities he has engaged in since then.’
‘,We members of the association, therefore call for fairness and ask that the AFN rescind the purported suspension of Kwara State Athletics Association, as we believe it was done without hearing our own side of the story.
‘We also believe the suspension could jeopardize the future of the current generation of young athletes being developed
